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CompCytogen 7(2): | 11-129 (2013) COMPARATIVE A reerrerewet open-access over 


doi: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v7i2.4462 Kan Cyto genetics 


www.pensoft.net/journals/compcytogen International journal of Plant & Animal Cytogenetics, 


Karyosystematics, and Molecular Systematics 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of 
karyotype evolution and taxonomy of water bugs 
(Heteroptera, Belostomatidae) native to Argentina 


Chirino Ménica Gabriela'?", Alba Graciela Papeschi'*, Maria José Bressa'’ 


I Znstituto de Ecologia, Genética y Evolucién de Buenos Aires, Departamento de Ecologia, Genética y Evolu- 
cién, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellén 
I, C1428EHA, Ciudad Auténoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina 2 Laboratorio de Entomologia Aplicada y 
Forense, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnologia, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sdenz Pena 352, 
B1876BXD, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina 


Corresponding author: Chirino Ménica Gabriela (mchirino@ege.fcen.uba.ar) 


Academic editor: S. Grozeva | Received 10 December 2012 | Accepted 19 March 2013 | Published 29 April 2013 


Citation: Chirino MG, Papeschi AG, Bressa MJ (2013) ‘The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype 
evolution and taxonomy of water bugs (Heteroptera, Belostomatidae) native to Argentina. Comparative Cytogenetics 


7(2): 111-129. doi: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v7i2.4462 


Abstract 

Male meiosis behaviour and heterochromatin characterization of three big water bug species were studied. 
Belostoma dentatum (Mayr, 1863), B. elongatum Montandon, 1908 and B. gestroi Montandon, 1903 pos- 
sess 2n = 26 + X,X,Y (male). In these species, male meiosis is similar to that previously observed in Belos- 
toma Latreille, 1807. In general, autosomal bivalents show a single chiasma terminally located and divide 
reductionally at anaphase I. On the other hand, sex chromosomes are achiasmatic, behave as univalents 
and segregate their chromatids equationally at anaphase I. The analysis of heterochromatin distribution 
and composition revealed a C-positive block at the terminal region of all autosomes in B. dentatum, a C- 
positive block at the terminal region and C-positive interstitial dots on all autosomes in B. elongatum, and 
a little C-positive band at the terminal region of autosomes in B. gestroi. A C-positive band on one bivalent 
was DAPI negative/CMA, positive in the three species. The CMA,-bright band, enriched in GC base 
pairs, was coincident with a NOR detected by FISH. ‘The results obtained support the hypothesis that all 
species of Belostoma with multiple sex chromosome systems preserve NORs in autosomal bivalents. The 
karyotype analyses allow the cytogenetic characterization and identification of these species belonging to 
a difficult taxonomic group. Besides, the cytogenetic characterization will be useful in discussions about 


evolutionary trends of the genome organization and karyotype evolution in this genus. 


Copyright Chirino Monica Gabriela et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 
3.0 (CC-BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 


112 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 11 1-129 (2013) 


Keywords 
Heteroptera, holokinetic chromosomes, karyotype evolution mechanisms, multiple sex chromosomes, 


rDNA-FISH 


Introduction 


Belostomatidae include some of the largest heteropteran species, which are general 
predators that play an important role as biological agents in aquatic environments 
(Menke 1979, Smith 1997, Saha et al. 2010). This family has a cosmopolitan distribu- 
tion in tropical and subtropical areas in the world (Schnack 1976, Polhemus and Pol- 
hemus 2008). In South America, the genus Be/ostoma Latreille, 1807 is the most diverse 
and includes 61 species mainly distributed from Colombia and Brazil to Argentina 
and Chile (Heckman 2011). Nevertheless, cytogenetic reports in Belostoma from South 
America comprise the male chromosome complement of 15 species and male meiosis 
analysis of 13 species (Table 1). Ten of these species show a modal diploid chromosome 
number 2n = 29 = 26 + X,X,Y (male) and five species possess reduced chromosome 
numbers and a simple sex chromosome system XY/XX (male/female) (Table 1). 

All species of Belostoma analyzed possess holokinetic chromosomes, i.e. chromo- 
somes without a primary constriction and therefore without a localized centromere. 
Autosomal bivalents are synaptic and chiasmatic, whereas sex chromosomes are asyn- 
aptic and achiasmatic, and behave as univalents in first male meiotic division. Howev- 
er, at metaphase II sex chromosomes associate end-to-end through the so called touch- 
and-go pairing, forming a pseudo-bivalent or pseudo-multivalent. In the first meiotic 
division, autosomal bivalents segregate reductionally while sex chromosomes divide 
equationally (Ueshima 1979, Papeschi and Bidau 1985, Suja et al. 2000, Papeschi and 
Bressa 2006, Bardella et al. 2012). During meiosis, the kinetic activity is restricted to 
the chromosome ends and the chromosomes can be regarded as telokinetic (Motzko 
and Ruthmann 1984). 

Most hypotheses on karyotype evolution in Heteroptera include both autoso- 
mal and sex chromosome fusions and fragmentations (Ueshima 1979, Manna 1984, 
Thomas 1987, Papeschi 1994, 1996, Pérez et al. 2004). The cytogenetic data available 
for Belostoma allow to hypothesize that current karyotypes with a multiple sex chro- 
mosome system (X_Y/X_X_, male/female) are derived through fragmentation of the 
ancestral X from an XY sex chromosome system. On the other hand, reduced chromo- 
some complements with simple sex chromosome system (XY/XX, male/female) have 
probably originated through several chromosomal fusions (Papeschi 1996, Papeschi 
and Bressa 2006, Bardella et al. 2012). 

The aim of this study was to perform a detailed comparison of male meiosis behav- 
iour and examine the structure of the holokinetic chromosomes by means of C- and 
fluorescent bandings, and fluorescent im situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA 
probes in Belostoma dentatum (Mayr, 1863), B. elongatum Montandon, 1908 and B. 
gestroi Montandon, 1903. The female complement and the male meiosis of B. elonga- 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy... 113 


Table |. Diploid chromosome number, chromosome bandings and nucleolar organizer region (NOR) 


detected by FISH in South American Belostoma species. *A: autosomal bivalent, **X, Y: sex chromosomes 


DAPI/ rDNA 
Species Chae Hands te FISH References 


Re “ Papeschi and Bressa 2004 


B. bifoveolatum Spinola, 
1852 


B. candidulum 
Montandon, 1903 yes -- Bardella et al. 2012 


B. Sas ‘a Carlo, 26 +X, XY ia no ah Papeschi and Bidau 1985 
; Papeschi and Bidau 1985, 
B. dentatum (Mayr, 1863) | 26 + X,X,Y yes A Bipeschi 199d, this seid 
26: XN no 23 Papeschi 1992 
B.di four, 1 
Gaia OEE LEGS) 26 Px KRY yes “4 Bardella et al. 2012 


B. discretum Montandon, Papeschi 1992, Chirino and 
1903 a AG ues c Bressa 2011 


, Papeschi 1988, 1991, Papeschi 
26 + X XY A 
B. elegans (Mayr, 1871) a ue and Bidau 1985, 
a | Papeschi and Bressa 2006 


B. elongatum Montandon, F Papeschi and Bressa 2006, this 
1908 26 +X XY yes A aud 


B. gestroi Montandon, 1903| 26 +X X,Y yes A’ __|Papeschi and Bressa 2006, this study 


B. martini (Montandon, 
1899) 26+XX,Y no ea Papeschi 1991 


Papeschi 1988, Papeschi and 


Papeschi 1991, Chirino and 
Bressa 2011 


B. micantulum (Stal, 1860) yes b e's etn 00G 
1 hi 1996, Chiri d 

B. orbiculatum Estévez & yes -- ae FA e rae iy 

ressa 2011 

Polhemus, 2001 : 
Papeschi 1996 
Papeschi 1988, 1995, Papeschi 
B. oxyurum (Dufour, 1863) yes De Wi Batten 2006 
no -- 


B. plebejum (Stal, 1858) Papeschi 1994 


Pp 14+XXY || 


tum and B. gestroi are described for the first time. These results allowed us to distin- 
guish morphologically similar species and, also, led us to propose a scenario of karyo- 
type evolution in the genus Belostoma. 


Material and Methods 


Insects 


For meiotic analysis, adults and nymphs of B. elongatum (9 males and 8 females) and 
B. gestroi (4 males and 12 females) were collected from 1988 to 1990 in several fields 


114 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 11 1-129 (2013) 


Table 2. Species, provenience, geographical coordinates, and number of adults’ collected and examined 


of Belostoma for chromosomal analyses discriminated by gender. 


Species Chromosomal analyses Localities from Argentina | Coordinates |N° of individuals 
: 33°40'33"S, 
C- and DAPI-CMA, bandings |San Pedro, Buenos Aires 59°39'47"W 3 males 
B. dentatum 


B. elongatum| Male meiotic behaviour 


FISH technique 


Chromosome complement 


Corrientes, Corrientes 


Arroyo Cuay Grande, 
Corrientes 


Lagos de Stieler, Misiones 


Valle Hermoso, Misiones 


27°28 16'S, 
58°50'22"W 
28°28'16'S, 
58°50'22"W 
26°34'2"S, 
54°45'57"W 
26°23 10°S, 
54°27'58"W 


1 female 


1 female 


1 male 


8 males, 7 females 


C- and DAPI-CMA, bandings 
FISH technique 


Chromosome complement 


Corrientes, Corrientes 


Rio San Pedro, Buenos 


Aires 


27728 16,5; 
58°50'22"W 
33°40'33"S, 
59°39'47"W 


3, males 


1 male 


31°36'4"S, 

60°34'12"W 
B°26.007S; 
60°22'00"W 
27°28 16-95 
58°50'22"W 


Rincén Norte, Santa Fe 3 males, 11 females 


B. gestroi Male meiotic behaviour 


1 female 


Santa Rosa, Santa Fe 


C- and DAPI-CMA, bandings . : 
. 3 Corrientes, Corrientes 
FISH technique 


2 males, 1 female 


from Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Entre Rios, Corrientes and Misiones provinces, all in 
Argentina (Table 2). For chromosome bandings and fluorescent in situ hybridization 
(FISH) technique, adults of B. dentatum (3 males and 1 female), B. elongatum (3 
males) and B. gestroi (2 males and 1 female) were collected from 2010 to 2011 in Cor- 
rientes province (Argentina) (Table 2). Collected adults were identified according to 
the keys provided by Schnack (1976) and Heckman (2011). 


Chromosome preparations 


The captured specimens were brought alive to the laboratory and reared until their 
gonads were dissected out. For meiotic analysis, the adults and nymphs were fixed for 
15-30 min in freshly prepared fixative (ethanol:glacial acetic acid, 3:1). Afterwards, 
gonads were dissected out and kept at 4° C in 70% ethanol. Slides were prepared by 
the squash technique in a drop of 2% iron-propionic haematoxylin following con- 
ventional procedures (Sdez 1960). For C- and fluorescent bandings, and FISH tech- 
nique, gonads were dissected in a physiological saline solution for Ephestia Guenée, 
1845 (Glaser 1917: cited by Lockwood 1961), swollen for 15 min in a hypotonic 
solution (0.075 M KCl), and fixed for 15-30 min in freshly prepared Carnoy fixative 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy... 15 


(ethanol:chloroform:glacial acetic acid, 6:3:1). Spread chromosome preparations were 
made in a drop of 60% acetic acid with the help of tungsten needles and spread on the 
slide using a heating plate at 45° C as described in Traut (1976). The preparations were 
dehydrated in an ethanol series (70, 80 and 96%, 30 sec each) and stored at -20° C 
until use. 


Chromosome bandings 


Heterochromatin content, distribution and nucleotide composition were analysed by 
means of C- and sequential fluorescent DAPI and CMA, bandings. C-banding was 
performed according to Papeschi (1988), and the pre-treated slides were stained with 
4’6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI; Fluka BioChemika, Sigma Aldrich Production 
GmbH, Buchs, Switzerland) for a better resolution of C-bands (Poggio et al. 2011). 
Fluorescent banding with AT-specific DAPI and GC-specific chromomycin A, (CMA,; 
Fluka BioChemika) was carried out following Poggio et al. (2011). 


Fluorescence in situ hybridization 


Unlabelled 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) probes were generated by polymerase chain 
reaction (PCR) using universal arthropod primers: forward 5’-CCTGAGAAACG- 
GCTACCACATC-3’ and reverse 5’-GAGTCTCGTTCGTTATCGGA-3’ (Whiting 
2002). Total genomic DNA of Dysdercus albofasciatus Berg, 1878, obtained by standard 
phenol-chloroform-isoamylalcohol extraction, was used as a template. PCR was done 
following the procedure described in Fukova et al. (2005). The PCR product showed a 
single band of about 1,000 bp on a 1% agarose gel. The band was recovered from the 
gel and purified by using a QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (Quiagen GmbH, Hilden, 
Germany). The 18S rDNA fragment was re-amplified by PCR and then labeled with 
biotin 14-dATP by nick translation using a BioNick Labeling System (Invitrogen, Life 
Technologies Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). FISH with a biotinylated 18S rDNA probe 
was carried out following the procedure in Sahara et al. (1999) with several modifica- 
tions described by Fukova et al. (2005) and Bressa et al. (2009). 


C-positive heterochromatin and DNA measurements 


Data of C-positive heterochromatin percentage and the haploid DNA content in B. 
dentatum, B. elongatum and B. gestroi are part of the results obtained by Papeschi in 
her Ph.D. Thesis (1992). The procedures of C-positive heterochromatin percentage 
and the haploid DNA content were published by Papeschi in 1991 and 1988, respec- 
tively. Hence, these results were mentioned only in this paper to analyze and discuss 
the extent of karyotype uniformity in these three species. Briefly, the study of the C- 


116 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 11 1-129 (2013) 


positive heterochromatin measurements was performed on meiotic cells. For each spe- 
cies at least 10 C-banded cells at diakinesis and without superimposed bivalents were 
photographed. The percentage of C-positive heterochromatin was calculated as the 
C-positive area divided by the total chromosome area. The DNA content was carried 
out by Feulgen microdensitometry (Papeschi 1988) in individuals fixed similar time 


ago (1-3 months) (Papeschi 1991). 


Statistical analysis 


The total chromosome length measurements (TCL) were performed with Micro Meas- 
ure for Windows, version 3.3. The TCL of all bivalents and sex chromosomes were 
performed in metaphase I. Differences in TCL among species were compared by us- 
ing one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with Fisher adjusted a posterior contrast. 
Statistical analyses were done using Statview software (SAS Institute Inc., 1992-1998). 


Microscopy, photographs and image processing 


Preparations were observed in epifluorescence microscopes: Zeiss Laborlux (Carl Zeiss, 
Germany) equipped with an analogue camera and Leica DMLB equipped with a Leica 
DFC350 FX CCD camera and Leica IM50 software, version 4.0 (Leica Microsystems 
Imaging Solutions Ltd., Cambridge, UK). Photomicrographs from meiotic chromo- 
some preparations were taken using Kodak colour Supra print film 400 ASA. Black- 
and-white images of chromosomes from C- and fluorescent bandings and FISH tech- 
nique were recorded separately for each fluorescent dye with the CCD camera. Images 
were pseudo-coloured (light blue for DAPI, green for CMA,, and red for Cy3), and 


processed with an appropriate software. 


Results 


Male chromosome complement and meiosis 


Male meiotic karyotypes based on metaphase I autosomal bivalents (II) and sex uni- 
valents of B. dentatum, B. elongatum and B. gestroi show a male diploid chromosome 
number 2n = 13] + X,X,Y (Fig. 1). In the three species, the autosomes decrease gradu- 
ally in size, both X chromosomes differ slightly in size and the Y chromosome is the 
smallest of the complement. The chromosome complement and male meiotic behav- 
iour of B. dentatum have already been described (Papeschi and Bidau 1985). ‘The three 
species of Belostoma show statistical differences in total chromosome length (TCL) (F ;. 
93 = 8.484; P = 0.0004), which is higher in B. dentatum (39.43 + 3.72 um), intermedi- 
ate in B. elongatum (37.03 + 2.96 um) and lower in B. gestroi (33.31 + 3.64 um). 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy... 117 


Autosomal bivalents XX Y 


ce 
ae 
as 
ae 
& 
eae 
es 
Be 
& 
we 
) 
te 
ae 
wo 
ae 
- 


f A q $ Fd ry t 3 % — f —_— — - _ x, 
— # 


C 


Figure |. Male meiotic karyotypes of B. dentatum (a), B. elongatum (b) and B. gestroi (c), 2n = 13] + 
X,X.Y, stained with 2% iron-propionic haematoxylin. 


Analysis of spermatogonial prometaphase of B. elongatum and B. gestroi revealed 
a diploid number of 29 chromosomes; both karyotypes were as described by Pape- 
schi (1992) (Fig. 2a). Male meiotic behaviour in B. elongatum and B. gestroi was 
similar and followed the same pattern as previously described for other Belostoma 
species. Thus, we showed a single and combined Figure 2 with meiotic stages from 
both species. At synizesis, the first meiotic identifiable stage of meiosis, chromatin 
condenses eccentrically in the nucleus (Fig. 2b). At pachytene, an autosomal bi- 
valent is associated with the nucleolus and the 13 autosomal bivalents are joined 
through their positive heteropycnotic terminal regions. The condensed sex chro- 
mosomes, close to each other, may be distinguished (Fig. 2c). In this cell, the two 
X chromosomes have a secondary constriction, but these constrictions are observed 
in only one specimen of B. elongatum. During the diffuse stage, all bivalents decon- 
dense completely, except for some chromocentres (Fig. 2d). In B. gestroi, at early 
diakinesis, both X chromosomes are negative heteropycnotic, and the Y chromo- 
some is positive heteropycnotic (Fig. 2e, f). At late diakinesis, the three sex univa- 
lents and the 13 autosomal bivalents becomes isopycnotic in both species (Fig. 2g, 
h). Each bivalent has a single chiasma in either subterminal or terminal positions 
(Fig. 2e—h). At metaphase I, autosomal bivalents arrange in a ring, but the Xs and 
Y univalents do not show a defined position (Fig. 2i). During anaphase I, the bi- 


118 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 111-129 (2013) 


Figure 2. Male meiosis in B. elongatum (b, ¢, g, j, k) and B. gestroi (a, d, e, f, h, i, I) stained with 2% 
iron-propionic haematoxylin. a Spermatogonial prometaphase b Synizesis ¢ Pachytene, X and Y = sex 
chromosomes d Diffuse stage e-f Early diakinesis g-h Diakinesis i Metaphase I j Anaphase I k Meta- 
phase II, Y sex chromosome is negatively heteropycnotic | Anaphase II. Arrows indicate sex chromosomes. 


pI] = pseudo-trivalent. N = nucleolus. Bar = 10 pm. 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy... 119 


valents divide reductionally, whereas the sex chromosomes do so equationally (Fig. 
2j). All telophase I nuclei exhibit 16 chromosomes in each pole (13 + X,X,Y). The 
second meiotic division follows without an interkinesis stage. At metaphase II, the 
13 autosomes dispose forming a ring and in the centre of it, the sex chromosomes 
are associated in a pseudo-trivalent. The Y chromosome is negatively heteropycnotic 
and is oriented towards the opposite spindle pole to that of X, and X, (Fig. 2k). At 
anaphase II, 14 chromosomes migrate to one pole (13 + Y) and 15 to the opposite 
one (13 + X,X,) (Fig. 21). 


Chromosome bandings 


C-banding reveals differences in the amount and location of heterochromatin among 
the three species analysed. In B. elongatum, very large C-positive blocks can be de- 
tected terminally on all bivalents from prophase I to metaphase I, and interstitial dots 
are also observed (Fig. 3a—c). In B. gestroi, in contrast, C-positive bands are very small 
and are always located terminally (Fig. 3d, e). The results observed in B. dentatum 
matched data previously described by Papeschi (1991) with C-positive bands termi- 
nally located in all bivalents (Fig. 3f, g). Furthermore, the two X chromosomes in the 
three species show terminally located bands, whereas the Y chromosome is C-negative 
(Fig. 3a, cg). 

All chromosomes stain homogenously with both fluorochromes on mitotic and 
meiotic metaphase cells in the three species, except for one of the medium-sized auto- 
somal bivalents in B. dentatum (Fig. 4a—c) and B. elongatum (Fig. 4d—f), and one of the 
large-sized in B. gestroi (Fig. 4g—i), which show a DAPI negative/ CMA, positive band 


at one terminal position. 


Location of rDNA 


In chromosome preparations of B. dentatum, FISH experiments with the 18S rDNA 
probe show a cluster of rDNA genes located at one end of two homologous chromo- 
somes each (Fig. 5a). A single cluster of signals is observed in an autosomal bivalent 
at pachytene (Fig. 5b). During diffuse stage, hybridization signals are observed in the 
decondensed mass of autosomal chromatin, whereas the sex chromosomes remain con- 
densed forming a conspicuous DAPI bright chromatin body without any signals (Fig. 
5c). At diakinesis-metaphase I, one medium-sized autosomal bivalent show hybridiza- 
tion signals at both ends (Fig. 5d). In concordance with the results of B. dentatum, in 
mitotic metaphases of B. elongatum and B. gestroi, hybridization signals are detected in 
two homologous autosomes (Fig. 5e, g). At diakinesis-metaphase I, a single cluster of 
rRNA genes is located at both ends of a medium-sized autosomal bivalent of B. elon- 


gatum (Fig. 5e-f) and of a one large-sized of B. gestroi (Fig. 5h). 


120 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 11 1-129 (2013) 


Figure 3. C-banding in chromosomes of B. elongatum (a=-c), B. gestroi (d, e) and B. dentatum 


(f, g) stained with DAPI. a Diakinesis, conspicuous terminal C-positive blocks are observed in all 
autosomal bivalents and both X chromosomes b A detail of autosomal bivalents with interstitial C- 
positive dots (arrows) at early diakinesis ¢ Late diakinesis d Diakinesis, small terminal C-positive 
bands in some autosomal bivalents (arrows) € Metaphase I f Late diakinesis, terminal C-positive 
bands in all autosomal bivalents and both X chromosomes g Metaphase II. a, c=g The Y chromosome 


is C-negative. X, Y = sex chromosomes. Bar = 10 um. 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy... 


Figure 4. DAPI (blue) and CMA, (green) fluorescent banding in chromosomes of B. dentatum (ac), 
B. elongatum (d-f) and B. gestroi (g-i). a Oogonial metaphase (2n = 30 = 26 + X,X,X,X,) b Diakinesis € 
Metaphase II d Spermatogonial metaphase (2n = 29 = 26 + X,X,Y) e Diakinesis f Metaphase II g Sper- 
matogonial metaphase (2n = 29 = 26 + X,X,Y) h Diakinesis i Metaphase I. Arrows indicate DAPI nega- 


tive/ CMA, positive bands. Arrowheads show sex chromosomes (d, g). X, Y = sex chromosomes. plII = 


pseudo-trivalent. Bar = 10 ym. 


122 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 111-129 (2013) 


Figure 5. Location of rDNA genes in chromosomes of B. dentatum (ad), B. elongatum (e, f) and B. 
gestroi (g, h) by FISH with 18S rDNA probes (red signals, arrows). Chromosomes were counterstained 
with DAPI (blue). a Spermatogonial anaphase (2n = 29 = 26 + X,X,Y) b Pachytene € Diffuse stage d Di- 
akinesis e Spermatogonial metaphase and diakinesis f Metaphase I g Spermatogonial metaphase (2n = 29 


= 26 + X,X,Y) h Diakinesis-Metaphase I. Arrowheads show sex chromosomes. Bar = 10 um. 


Discussion 


The Belostoma species analyzed here shared apparently similar karyotypes, since they 
possess the same chromosome complement (2n = 29 = 26 + X,X,Y, male), with chro- 
mosomes progressively decreasing in size. In Belostomatidae, this 2n is the modal dip- 
loid chromosome number and is present in 10 species of Belostoma (Papeschi and 
Bressa 2006, Chirino and Bressa 2011). On the other hand, in B. elongatum and B. 
gestroi the male meiotic behaviour followed a similar pattern as previously described 
for other species of this genus (Papeschi and Bidau 1985, Papeschi 1996, Bardella et al. 
2012). Both B. elongatum and B. gestroi, as well as B. dentatum, showed the following 
cytogenetic characteristics: a) synizesis observed, b) a multiple sex chromosome system 
(XX, Y, male), c) Y chromosome negatively heteropycnotic at metaphase II, d) varia- 
tion in the TCL and in the C-banding pattern, and e) a single pair of NOR-autosomes. 
Within Heteroptera, the synizesis stage was described in a few species of Belostoma (Pa- 
peschi and Bidau 1985, Papeschi 1992) and Dysdercus Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (Bressa 
2003, Bressa et al. 2003). In this stage the chromatin condenses eccentrically in the 
nucleus and chromosome pairing begins. 

Heterochromatin characterization in the three species revealed differences in the 
amount, distribution and location of the constitutive heterochromatin in autosomes 
and both X chromosomes: i) terminal C-positive bands in B. dentatum, ii) conspicu- 
ous C-positive bands at terminal and interstitial positions in B. elongatum, and iii) very 
scarce C-positive bands terminally located in B. gestroi. This variation in the constitu- 
tive heterochromatin of these three species could imply changes in the DNA content 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy... 123 


in the karyotype evolution in the genus, which could modify the size of the chromo- 
some complement. In accordance with this suggestion, the analysis of TCL showed a 
significant variation among the three species, which means that certain chromosomal 
changes, must have taken place during their evolution. 

Papeschi (1992) found a great interspecific variation in DNA content as well as 
differences in C-positive heterochromatin percentage among B. dentatum (1.93 pg, 
58.54 %), B. elongatum (1.75 pg, 59.47 %) and B. gestroi (1.13 pg, 37.24 %). Taking 
into account the data previously described by Papeschi (1992), together with the re- 
sults obtained from the analysis of the TCL in these three species, we propose the exist- 
ence of positive relationships between TCL and DNA content and between TCL and 
C-positive heterochromatin percentage (Fig. 6). Thus, it is apparent that differences in 
the TCL in the three species might represent changes or variations in DNA content 
since the accumulation/addition of satellite DNA in all chromosomes of the comple- 
ment. The comparison between the DNA content and the C-positive heterochromatin 
percentage of the three species shows a general trend, i.e. an increase in the DNA 
content is accompanied by an increase in the amount of C-positive heterochromatin. 
However, B. dentatum and B. elongatum have a very different DNA content and a 
similar percentage of C-positive heterochromatin. On the other hand, B. gestroi shows 
the lowest DNA content and the lowest C-positive heterochromatin percentage. In ac- 
cordance with the earlier reports on six other species of Belostoma (Papeschi and Bidau 
1985, Papeschi 1988, 1991, 1992), the genome size differences between B. dentatum 
and B. elongatum could be due to a proportionate variation of both C-positive hetero- 
chromatin and C-negative chromatin occurred during evolution. The chromosomes of 
B. gestroi could have gained low amount of C-positive heterochromatin, or else during 
evolution some C-positive bands became lost. 

In Heteroptera, the classical distribution pattern of C-positive heterochromatin is 
terminal in some or all chromosomes. Interstitial C-positive bands are described in a 
few species and some of them correspond to secondary constrictions and NORs. In 
concordance with these cytogenetic features, the C-banding pattern observed in B. 
elongatum with respect to both terminal and interstitial C-positive regions agrees with 
most previous reports within Belostoma (Papeschi 1995) and Heteroptera (Camacho 
et al. 1985, Panzera et al. 1995, Grozeva and Nokkala 2001, Angus et al. 2004, Ituarte 
and Papeschi 2004, Bressa et al. 2005, 2008, Franco et al. 2006). 

The results with fluorescent banding indicate that all C-positive bands in the spe- 
cies analysed were not enriched with AT or CG base pairs, as all chromosomes were 
stained homogeneously with both DAPI and CMA, fluorochromes, except for the 
C- positive band observed in the medium-sized autosomal bivalent of B. dentatum 
and B. elongatum and in one of the large-sized of B. gestroi, which was DAPI negative/ 
CMA, positive. Therefore, the CMA, bright band is enriched in GC base pairs and 
could represent an NOR (see below). The presence of a CMA, bright band was also 
reported not only in other species of Belostoma (Papeschi and Bressa 2006) but also in 
other heteropteran species, at interstitial or terminal position, either on autosomes or 
sex chromosomes, and they are generally associated to NORs (Gonzalez-Garcia et al. 


124 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 111-129 (2013) 


C- heterochromatin (%) 
DNA content (pg) 
on 


33 34 35 36 37 «+38 #«#939+~ «40 
TCL (um) b TCL (um) 


Figure 6. a Comparison between the total chromosome length (TCL) and the percentage of C-positive 
heterochromatin at diakinesis in B. dentatum (58.54 + 1.27 %; circle), B. elongatum (59.47 + 0.78 %; 
rectangle) and B. gestroi (37.24 + 1.50 %; diamond) b Comparison between the total chromosome length 
(TCL) and the haploid DNA content (pg) in B. dentatum (1.93 + 0.16 um; circle), B. elongatum (1.75 + 
0.05 um; rectangle) and B. gestroi (1.13 + 0.13 um; diamond). Data of percentage of C-positive hetero- 
chromatin and the haploid DNA content were obtained from Papeschi (1991, 1992). 


1996, Papeschi et al. 2001, 2003, Rebagliati et al. 2003, Cattani et al. 2004, Grozeva 
et al. 2004, Poggio et al. 2011). 

In Belostomatidae, the location of NORs was previously analysed by FISH with 
18S rDNA probe in B. oxyurum (Dufour, 1863) (2n = 6 + XY, NOR in sex chro- 
mosomes), B. micantulum (Stal, 1860) (2n = 14 + XY, NOR in sex chromosomes), 
B. elegans (Mayr, 1871) (2n = 26 + X,X,Y, NOR in a pair of autosomes) (Papeschi 
and Bressa 2006), and Lethocerus patruelis (Stal, 1854) (2n = 22 + 2m + XY, NOR in 
sex chromosomes) (Kuznetsova et al. 2012). The present paper presents information 
about the number and chromosomal location of ribosomal clusters in B. dentatum, B. 
elongatum and B. gestroi, which have a single cluster located in an autosomal pair. In 
these three species the NOR is associated with a CMA,-bright band. ‘The results of the 
fluorescent banding and FISH in these species agree with those described for B. oxyu- 
rum, B. micantulum and B. elegans, in which the NOR regions are colocalized with a 
CMA. -positive band and, therefore, the repeating unit of rDNA is GC-rich (Papeschi 
and Bressa 2006). Taking into account the data on the number and location of rDNA 
clusters along with the type of sex chromosome systems in Belostomatidae, we can 
observe two different patterns of rDNA distribution. The NOR is located at terminal 
position on both sex chromosomes in species that have a simple sex chromosome sys- 
tem (XY), or, in contrast, the NOR is placed at terminal position on an autosomal pair 
in the species with a multiple sex chromosome system (X,X,Y). Hence, our present 
results led us to propose that in Belostomatidae the location of rDNA genes could be 
associated with variants of the sex chromosome systems. Moreover, this relationship 
between the number and location of the NOR and the sex chromosome system has 
only been observed in this family of Heteroptera. 

Previous cytogenetic data on worldwide Belostomatidae species allowed Papeschi 
and Bressa (2006) to propose an ancestral male karyotype 2n = 28 = 26 + XY, from 


The significance of cytogenetics for the study of karyotype evolution and taxonomy... 125 


which the karyotypes with multiple sex chromosome systems (2n = 26 + X,X,Y) and 
those with a low 2n (6 + XY, 14 + XY, 13 + XY, 22 + XY) would have originated by 
fragmentation of the ancestral X chromosome and chromosomal fusions, respectively. It 
is generally accepted that multiple sex chromosome systems in Heteroptera are the result 
of fragmentation(s) of the X and/or Y chromosome(s) of an ancestral simple sex chromo- 
some system (Heizer 1950, Hughes-Schrader and Schrader 1961, Ueshima 1979, Man- 
na 1984, Papeschi 1996, Papeschi and Bressa 2006). The holokinetic nature of heterop- 
teran chromosomes and the achiasmatic male meiosis of sex chromosomes are the main 
facts that support this hypothesis and may account for the variability (Ueshima 1979, 
Manna 1984, Thomas 1987). In most cases of multiple sex chromosomes, the increase in 
the number of sex chromosomes is not accompanied by a reduction in the number of au- 
tosomes. The analysis of different populations of B. orbiculatum Estévez and Polhemus, 
2001 (Papeschi 1996), B. plebejum (Stal, 1858) (Papeschi 1994), B. dilatatum (Dufour, 
1863) (Bardella et. al 2012), Oechalia pacifica (Stal, 1859) (Heizer 1950) and Banasa 
zeteki Sailer, 1959 (Pentatomidae) (Schrader and Hughes-Schrader 1958), polymorphic 
for the sex chromosome systems, lend support to the hypothesis of a fragmentation 
origin of a multiple sex chromosome systems. In all these examples one chromosome of 
the simple system (XY) was replaced by two chromosomes of smaller size in the mutant 
individuals. Therefore, these interspecific polymorphisms of sex chromosomes represent 
a direct evidence of the origin of multiple sex chromosome system through fragmenta- 
tion in Belostoma. On the other hand, the species of this genus with reduced chromo- 
some numbers are characterized by a larger chromosome size, a low DNA content and 
very scarce C-positive heterochromatin (Papeschi and Bressa 2006). These karyotypes 
probably originated from the ancestral chromosome complement through chromosome 
fusions. The possibility of their occurrence is supported by the fact that the autosomal 
fusions have been found in heterozygous condition in natural populations of B. plebejum 
(Papeschi 1994), Triatoma infestans (Klug, 1834) (Poggio et al. 2013) and Mepraia ga- 
jardoi Frias, Henry and Gonzalez, 1998 (Pérez et al. 2004) (Reduviidae). 

Published data on karyotype evolution in species of this genus (Papeschi and Bressa 
2006) along with the present results of rD NA-FISH support the hypothesis that in the 
ancestral male karyotype (2n = 28 = 26 + XY) the NOR would have been located in a 
pair of autosomes (Fig. 7). A fragmentation of the single X chromosome in the ances- 
tral karyotype resulted in multiple X chromosomes and led to a karyotype with 2n = 
2926 EXER NS but keeping the ancestral NOR-autosome pair, as represented by B. 
dentatum, B. elegans, B. elongatum and B. gestroi (Fig. 7). On the other hand, autosomal 
fusions and the fusion of the ancestral sex chromosome pair (XY) with the autosomes 
carrying the NOR would result in the reduction in the diploid chromosome (2n = 8, 
16), increasing the chromosomes size and led to the presence of rDNA genes in both 
X and Y chromosomes. Alternatively, the rDNA gene cluster could have been translo- 
cated from an autosomal location to the X and Y chromosomes, as it has been proposed 
in Dysdercus albofasciatus Berg, 1878 (Bressa et al. 2009). Furthermore, future studies 
within Belostoma about this regular pattern will shed light on the karyotype evolution 
within the genus and also support the mechanisms involved in the karyotype evolution. 


126 Chirino Ménica Gabriela et al. / Comparative Cytogenetics 7(2): 111-129 (2013) 


Ancestral karyotype 
2n = 26 + XY 


NOR-autosome pair 


X chromosome 


fragmentation autosomal and/or 


sex chromosomes-autosomal 
fusions (several times) 


2n=6+ XY 
2n = 26 + X.X,Y NOR-sex chromosome pair 
NOR-autosome pair 2n= 14+ XY (B. oxyurum) 
(B. dentatum, B. elegans, B. elongatum, B. gestroi) NOR- sex chromosome pair autosomal 
fusion 
(B. micantulum) 
X chromosome sean 
f tati chromosome 
ey eee fragmentation 2n=13 + XY 
2n = 26 + X,X,X,Y (Bplebejum 
mes 2n=14+XXY 
(B. dilatatum) 


(B. orbiculatum, B. plebejurn) 


Figure 7. Hypothetical scheme of karyotype evolution in species of the genus Belostoma. See text and 
Table 1 for details. 


Conventional taxonomy of water bugs has focused almost entirely on adult 
specimens. There are relatively few publications on interspecific differences among 
the larvae, and fewer still concern South American species. The literature of the 
genus Belostoma includes much confusion because, in many cases, the species are 
very similar in coloration and appearance and only males or rarely only females can 
be identified (Heckman 2011). In B. dentatum, B. elongatum and B. gestroi, the 
karyotype analyses allow us to get a detailed characterization and a better knowledge 
of their chromosomal structure. Hence, we conclude that the cytogenetic studies 
provide valuable features that can be used to solve problems on taxonomic identifi- 
cation, at least for this genus. 


Acknowledgements 


This work was funded by grants UBACyT W917 of University of Buenos Aires, PIP 
0281 of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), and 
PICT 2007-00635 of ANPCyT from Argentina. MG Chirino and MJ Bressa thank 
CONICET and ANPCyT. We wish to thank A. Bachmann and C. Armtia de Reyes 


for taxonomic identification of the specimens included in the study. 


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